Daily Current Affairs and GK | 24 October 2025

Topic: Sports

1. India has been re-elected as the Vice-Chairperson of the Bureau for the 10th Conference of Parties (COP10).

• The conference is part of the International Convention against Doping in Sport.
• The decision was made during the COP10 session in Paris.
• The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports shared that India contributed interactive digital displays.
• These displays showed the evolution of the Anti-Doping Convention.
• Key discussions at the conference focused on improving governance.
• They also discussed increasing financial support for the Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport.
• The event celebrated the 20th anniversary of the International Convention against Doping in Sport.
• The convention is a legally binding global framework. It works to promote fairness and eliminate doping in sports.

Topic: Space and IT

2. ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan announced that nearly 90 percent of preparations for the uncrewed Gaganyaan G1 mission have been completed.

• The Gaganyaan G1 test flight is scheduled for launch in the first week of December.
• Dr. Narayanan stated that all critical systems, including the crew escape mechanism, parachute setup, communication systems, and related modules, have undergone successful testing.
• The humanoid robot Vyomamitra will be part of the Gaganyaan G1 mission, which will orbit in low Earth orbit.
• The first crewed Gaganyaan mission is planned for 2027, with three Indian astronauts expected to travel to space and return safely.
• Regarding the NISAR Earth Observation Satellite, Dr. Narayanan confirmed that its payload systems will become operational within 10 to 15 days.
• He revealed that the first base module of the Bharatiya Antriksh Station is expected to launch by 2028, with the full space station targeted for completion by 2035.
• The NAVIC navigation satellite network, consisting of seven satellites, is projected to be fully functional by 2027.
• On the upcoming Mars Lander Mission, he mentioned that the mission design is in progress and will soon be presented for approval.
• Dr. Narayanan also shared that ISRO is developing advanced multi-stage rockets capable of carrying payloads between 75,000 and 80,000 kilograms for future human and deep space missions.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part virtually in the 22nd ASEAN–India Summit on October 26.

• He will join the meeting at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
• Modi congratulated Anwar Ibrahim for Malaysia taking over the ASEAN Chairmanship.
• The Prime Minister said that India is committed to deepening the ASEAN–India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
• The External Affairs Ministry said that Modi and ASEAN leaders will review the progress of their partnership.
• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will attend the 20th East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 27.
• The East Asia Summit will discuss peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

Topic: Defence

4. The Defence Acquisition Council has approved defence projects worth about ₹79,000 crore.

• These projects aim to strengthen India’s Armed Forces.
• The meeting of Defence Acquisition Council was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
• The Defence Ministry announced several major acquisitions for the Indian Army.
• The Army will get the Nag Missile System (Tracked) Mk-II. It will also receive Ground-Based Mobile ELINT Systems.
• High Mobility Vehicles equipped with Material Handling Cranes have also been approved.
• For the Indian Navy, several projects received approval. These include Landing Platform Docks and 30mm Naval Surface Guns.
• The Navy will also get Advanced Lightweight Torpedoes and Electro-Optical Infrared Search and Track Systems.
• Smart Ammunition for 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mounts has also been cleared.
• The Indian Air Force received approval for the Collaborative Long Range Target Saturation/Destruction System.
• This system can operate autonomously. It can take off, land, navigate, identify targets, and deliver payloads within mission zones.
• These new acquisitions will boost the technological capabilities of the Armed Forces.
• They will also improve the operational readiness of all three defence services.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

5. The Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 will take place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from November 3 to 5.

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology held a curtain-raiser event to mark the upcoming conclave.
• During the event, MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan emphasized the importance of leveraging Artificial Intelligence for societal benefit and inclusive growth.
• He highlighted that AI will be a key driver in India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation.
• The conclave is being organized by the Department of Science and Technology.
• ESTIC 2025 will spotlight frontier innovations shaping India’s technology-driven development.

Topic: Banking/Finance

6. The key provisions of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, related to nomination will take effect from the first day of November 2025.

• The Finance Ministry made an announcement about this. The changes will give depositors greater flexibility.
• Depositors can now make nominations more easily. Customers can nominate up to four individuals for their bank deposits.
• The new rules are meant to simplify the claim settlement process. This will help both depositors and their nominees.
• The amendment also aims to improve governance practices. It seeks to increase accountability in the banking system.
• The Act will create uniform standards for banks’ reporting to the Reserve Bank of India.
• It focuses on enhancing depositor protection. It also aims to strengthen audit quality in public sector banks.

Topic: Sports

7. Vishvajit More secured a bronze medal in the 55 kg Greco-Roman category at the Under-23 Wrestling World Championships.

• The event took place in Serbia. He won over Kazakhstan's Yerassyl Mmayrbekov.
• The victory was by a narrow 5-4 margin. The match was held in Novi Sad.
• This win was India’s first medal at the 2025 Under-23 Wrestling World Championships.
• Three Indian female wrestlers were eliminated in their opening rounds.
• They were Hanny Kumari, Diksha Malik, and Priya Malik.
• A total of 29 Indian wrestlers are participating in the event. The event will run until October 27.
• Approximately 700 wrestlers are competing in the 2025 World Championships. The championships are taking place in Serbia.

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

8. The death toll from the Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria has increased to 172 in 2025.

• A total of 924 confirmed Lassa fever cases have been reported out of 8,041 suspected cases between January and October 2025.
• Poor sanitation, limited public awareness, and delayed treatment are aggravating the spread of the disease in Nigeria.
• The current case fatality rate is 18.6%. This is more than the 17% case fatality rate recorded during the same period in 2024.
• Individuals aged 21 to 30 years are the most affected by the outbreak.
• Lassa fever is a virus illness. It is found in West Africa. Lassa virus causes it.
• Lassa fever is transmitted to humans through contact with urine or feces of infected rodents.
• Lassa virus also spreads from human to human through  direct contact with the blood, urine or other body fluids of infected person.
• Its symptoms vary from mild (fever, headache, sore throat) to severe hemorrhagic disease.

Topic: International Appointments

9. Paul Kapur took oath as the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia.

• He is an Indian-American security expert. He was one of 107 nominees approved by the Senate.
• Kapur will now oversee America’s diplomatic relations with South and Central Asian nations. This includes India.
• Kapur succeeds Donald Lu. Donald Lu held the position from September 2021 to January 2025.
• Before this role, Kapur worked in the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff.
• He worked there from 2020 to 2021. He focused on South and Central Asia, Indo-Pacific strategy, and US-India relations.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

10. Tuvalu has officially joined the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as its 90th State Member.

• The country consists of nine atolls and islands. It covers a small land area of only 26 square kilometers.
• Tuvalu has large Exclusive Economic Zone of around 900,000 square kilometers. This is rich in marine biodiversity.
• Tuvalu's ecosystems, including coral reefs, fisheries, and seabird populations, threatened by climate change and rising sea levels.
• Tuvalu was welcomed into the IUCN during the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Abu Dhabi.
• The membership also opens doors for Tuvalu to collaborate with global funding initiatives, like the Green Climate Fund.
• The IUCN Congress 2025 took place in Abu Dhabi from October 9-15, 2025.
• Tuvalu lies in the South Pacific. Funafuti is its capital.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was created in 1948. It is headquartered in Gland, Switzerland.
• It brings together governments, NGOs, and experts to promote sustainable development and conserve nature.